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pandorum

Let's all freak out, "Prometheus" opens today. The excitement is palpable (even with mixed reviews coming in) and I personally can't wait to get thrown out of an airlock once more by Ridley Scott. There's a lot to be excited for with the film: a new entry in the Alien franchise, the release of a big budget sci-fi horror film, and more Michael Fassbender in our lives. Though its the sci-fi horror angle that will always get me, particularly with a setting in space and outer worlds. So this week I'm running down 9 Scary Space Movies in preparation of the big debut.

We believe in systems. Each of the promises society implicitly makes to us each day, they are enforced, codified and guaranteed by a system. We might doubt its efficacy, yes, or question the competence of the necessary bureaucracy, but the system persists despite itself, replacing fetishes and the knucklebones of saints in a secular world.

When systems break down, when they fail, that's when we feel fear. When we comprehend that they have betrayed us, dread. Horror is an examination of what happens when the universe breaks its promises.

A whole bunch of questionable to mid-range theatrical releases in this weeks' lineup... yay?

Most of us on the Bloody Good Horror Podcast were generally pleased with Ben Foster and Pandorum. Dennis Quaid gets to be a little much towards the end of the film, but other than that this is worth at least a rental.

After a little unscheduled break, the Box Office Special is back. And after a messy streak of flops, horror looks to be back too, with "Zombieland" flying out of the gates with a number one finish in its opening weekend. Let's catch up with a handy little chart:

It's been quite an interesting summer for science fiction films. "District 9" and "Star Trek" were both critical and financial success for distinct reasons, and left sci-fi fans satisfied. That satisfaction has allowed "Pandorum", a film made specifically with that segment of the audience in mind, to slip under the radar, especially in a season packed with genre related films. For some, that is a shame.

"Paranormal Activity", a film shot entirely from the POV of security cameras in a couple's haunted home, has been given an R rating by the MPAA. No word on release date yet, but this one has been gaining buzz on the festival circuit for a while now, so hopefully we'll hear more soon.

Check out the creature from "Pandorum" in this clip from the film, which gets released September 25th. I haven't heard a lot on this in terms of quality, but it looks highly solid to me.